Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

There are thousands of albums that came out this year. Green Day's three albums of mostly miss self-indulgent crap belongs nowhere near a top 10. You want punk rebellion, go to Metz or Titus Andronicus and listen to good music. I listened to Uno and Dos and was so fucking underwhelmed, even with lessened expectations.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

I may be the biggest Springsteen fan on this board and I wouldn't put that album anywhere near my top 10. I don't listen to it.

The Neil Young album is the only one I'd consider putting in my top 20. Dr. John's album is cool and Leonard Cohen's is really good, but neither were even slightly unexpected moves. Neil's never put out an album that so fully expressed the Crazy Horse ethos before (even though the title track in its original mix is a complete throwaway.)

Art Brut's Eddie Argos
1. No Love Lost by The Nightingales.
Although I've said no paticular order if pushed I would say this is my favourite album of the year. I love all their albums but this is definitely their best. I've spent everyday since it was released listening to it at least once. It depresses me how few people know about this band. Robert Llyod needs to be recognised as one Britain's greatest ever poets and the band celebrated the world over.I wont be satisified till The Nightingales get invited to play the Rock and Roll hall of fame and storm it in a big drunken dangerous spectacular mess or fall on their faces in the attempt.
2. Wildlife by The Lovely Eggs.
Helen Love (who had she found the time to release an album this year would definitely be in my top ten list) described The Lovely Eggs as 'fearless genius the best band in the world right now' can#t get higher praise than that. Go and buy their album (and some Helen Love while you are at it)
3. The Plot Against Common Sense by Future Of The Left.
Righteous anger deliverd with razor sharp wit and it rocks the fuck out.Perfect.
4. Tempest by Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan is one of those artists who just keeps getting better. Each album better than the last. This is his 35th Studio album.He is at his peak. Hooray.
5. On The Hot Dog Streets by Go Kart Mozart.
I love everything that Lawrence from Felt/Denim/Go Kart Mozart has ever done. Perhpas a bit too much as I already owned most of this as the unreleased Denim album 'Denim Take Over'. which I bought from ebay for a lot of money. Still thats my fault really and bitterness aside this is a great album.
6. Celebration Rock by Japandroids
7.Hypnotic Nights by Jeff The Brotherhood.
I am aware that a few of my choices are a little esoteric.However Im totally amazed that these albums aren't in all the other end of year lists. They are fucking brilliant. Ive been rocking out and getting drunk to them all year.
8. Average Kinda Savage by Thee Orphans
Hand on heart I think this is one of the best fucking Glam records ever made. A bit odd that it came out in 2012 and not the early seventies but still all the better for it.
9. and 10.
Im cheating a bit now to fill up the quota but a band called The North Sea Scrolls comprised of Luke Haines formerly of The Auters and Cathal Coughlan from Fatima Masions have just released a double concept album that details an alterante occult version of the history of the British Isles which I haven't heard yet but Im dairly sure Im going to love and also the band The Indelicates have started releasing their new album ' Diseases Of England' in three parts and I loved the first part. So know I at least like one third of the album.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Originally Posted by nosurprises12

I'm curious as to what criteria someone would use to rank reissues - quality of the remastering/repressing? Packaging? Serious question btw.

i really enjoy making reissue lists... i think a lot of factors go into it. some reissues are just plain necessary because they are crucial and impossible to find. then there is also contextual considerations... does reissuing the album at this point in time serve some purpose beyond simply making the music available? does it illuminate work being down now? of course quality of reissue matters, but there is so much incredible old music out there that in many ways it becomes more about the choice of picking that one album over the countless others you could choose from. i think this is especially compelling in the experimental realm because there are so many brilliant and bizarre albums that fell to the wayside that make so much more sense now that its easier for people more attuned to this kind of music to get a hold of it.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Originally Posted by SoulDischarge

Probably that, cultural importance of the music, how rare it was before it was reissued, etc.

Originally Posted by wmgaretjax

i really enjoy making reissue lists... i think a lot of factors go into it. some reissues are just plain necessary because they are crucial and impossible to find. then there is also contextual considerations... does reissuing the album at this point in time serve some purpose beyond simply making the music available? does it illuminate work being down now? of course quality of reissue matters, but there is so much incredible old music out there that in many ways it becomes more about the choice of picking that one album over the countless others you could choose from. i think this is especially compelling in the experimental realm because there are so many brilliant and bizarre albums that fell to the wayside that make so much more sense now that its easier for people more attuned to this kind of music to get a hold of it.

Thanks guys; I knew there had to be more to it than just aesthetic features.

Originally Posted by roberto73

I'd contribute to this discussion but I'm still busy reminiscing about the halcyon days of punk. You know, the mid-90s.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

MICK AND KEITH TO PRESENT THE “TOP 10 LIST” ON THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, TUESDAY DEC 11

Rock legends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones return to the Ed Sullivan Theater stage when they present the “Top Ten List” on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Tuesday, Dec. 11 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Jagger and Richards, who first graced the Ed Sullivan Theater stage when the Stones made their first of many performances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” Oct. 25, 1964, will be making their first visit to the LATE SHOW.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

I have consciously avoided the Kendrick Lamar album for a while now but with the reviews it's getting by boardees I whose opinions I trust as well as the media outlets, I think I need to open up and give it a chance.

Originally Posted by guedita

And to be fair to fikus, violent strangulation is one of his better qualities.

Originally Posted by malcolmjamalawesome

Being dead is literally the only way anyone on the planet could give less of a shit about you. You look like Farrah Fawcett's melted corpse.

GREG ANDERSON - BEST ALBUMS OF 2012
Black Breath-Sentenced To Life
Tragedy-Darker Days Ahead
High on Fire- De Vermis Mysteriis
OFF!-S/T
Xibalba-Hasta La Muerte
Wolfbrigade-Damned
Double Negative-Whatever they released in 2012!
Loincloth-Iron Balls of Steel
D-Clone-Creation and Destroy

GREG ANDERSON - BEST LIVE SHOWS OF 2012
Repulsion @ Power of the Riff
Tragedy//Los Angeles
Saint Vitus// anywhere
Negative Approach //Power of the Riff East

Full disclosure: I almost immediately dismiss most metal albums with 'low-growl' (I don't know how else to describe this) vocals. And I think I remember you talking about Pig Destroyer at one point, but if not, get on that. That seriously might be my favorite album of the year.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Best one yet for Metal...

AllMusic's Favorite Metal Albums of 2012

With the Mayan calendar portending the end of civilization on December 22, one would assume that that world’s metal elite would supply the ensuing end times with an appropriately apocalyptic soundtrack. Thankfully, bands both seasoned (Converge, Neurosis, Overkill) and freshly baked (Mares of Thrace, Horseback, Burning Love) rose to the occasion, offering up a veritable Last Supper of carnage/Yule Log of eternal suffering that catered to the genre’s myriad styles, while maintaining its subversive essence. Besides, nothing says Christmas quite like cueing up Goatwhore’s “Death to the Architects of Heaven” or Eagle Twin’s “Snake Hymn” at your company holiday party. They may not end up saving the world, but rest assured, these 20 standout acts will make damn sure you drink your Ovaltine while awaiting its annihilation.

Full disclosure: I almost immediately dismiss most metal albums with 'low-growl' (I don't know how else to describe this) vocals. And I think I remember you talking about Pig Destroyer at one point, but if not, get on that. That seriously might be my favorite album of the year.

Thanks dude. The Pig Destroyer is definitely top 10 for me (at least right now...) If you like that one, you should check out Liberteer's album, Better to Die on Your Feet Than Live On Your Knees. The other great Grindcore album from this year.

Today I listened to the new ones from Pallbearer, The Atlas Moth and Dawnbringer. All three are really fantastic metal albums. Dawnbringer in particular is kind of astounding. They sound like a more chugging and low-end heavy Iron Maiden. Kind of reminded me of The Sword, but I enjoyed it more.

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Originally Posted by Spooks

Best one yet for Metal...

After today, instantly DQed for no Dawnbringer. I don't think I'll take any metal list without that album seriously. They should really all have The Atlas Moth as well, but I think those guys are even more under the radar (Stereogum likely included them because of the Brandon Stosuy connection, which is where I initially heard about them.)

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Wow, there is so much on those lists that i haven't heard, and pretty much none of the metal records i did love are on them. Though the Allmusic list Spooks mentioned has a lot of good stuff.

Some of my personal metal-related favorites of the year, sub-genres all over the place (that haven't been mentioned yet, though that Alcest album is still one of my favorites of any album this year):
Arctic Sleep - Arbors
Old Man Gloom - No
Wreck and Reference - No Youth
KEN Mode - Venerable
If These Trees Could Talk - Red Forest
te' - Therefore, The Illusion Of Density Breach, The Tottering World Forget Tomorrow
Anhedonist - Netharwards
Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned
Vilipend - Inamorata
No Joy - Negaverse EP
Cloudkicker - Fade
Pg. Lost - Key

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Originally Posted by bmack86

They should really all have The Atlas Moth as well, but I think those guys are even more under the radar (Stereogum likely included them because of the Brandon Stosuy connection, which is where I initially heard about them.)

Re: Top Albums of 2012 (picked by labels, artists, & blogs)

Well that explains a lot. It came out September of 2011. Still one of the best albums of 2012, but if I had heard it back then it may very well have topped my 2011 list, as last year was mostly boring.